Fertility & birth rates in Afghanistan and South Africa

Fertility rate in Afghanistan vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Afghanistan

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Afghanistan	South Africa
2023	4.84	2.22
2022	4.93	2.23
2021	5.04	2.25
2020	5.15	2.26
2019	5.24	2.26
2018	5.33	2.27
2017	5.43	2.28
2016	5.54	2.26
2015	5.65	2.36
2014	5.77	2.42
2013	5.88	2.43
2012	5.99	2.45
2011	6.09	2.44
2010	6.2	2.44
2009	6.3	2.5
2008	6.39	2.68
2007	6.51	2.55
2006	6.69	2.55
2005	6.86	2.51
2004	7.02	2.44
2003	7.17	2.36
2002	7.32	2.32
2001	7.45	2.37
2000	7.57	2.41
1999	7.64	2.56
1998	7.69	2.63
1997	7.73	2.73
1996	7.76	2.99
1995	7.77	3.17
1994	7.77	3.26
1993	7.76	3.37
1992	7.7	3.48
1991	7.63	3.62
1990	7.58	3.72
1989	7.56	3.98
1988	7.55	4.18
1987	7.55	4.35
1986	7.55	4.41
1985	7.55	4.5
1984	7.55	4.57
1983	7.57	4.63
1982	7.6	4.7
1981	7.62	4.71
1980	7.64	4.78
1979	7.61	4.82
1978	7.6	4.85
1977	7.59	4.94
1976	7.56	5.07
1975	7.54	5.19
1974	7.53	5.3
1973	7.49	5.41
1972	7.45	5.49
1971	7.43	5.57
1970	7.4	5.63
1969	7.39	5.72
1968	7.36	5.78
1967	7.34	5.85
1966	7.32	5.91
1965	7.31	5.89
1964	7.3	5.96
1963	7.3	6.01
1962	7.29	6.05
1961	7.28	6.08
1960	7.28	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Afghanistan was 4.84 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.22 in South Africa in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Afghanistan vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Afghanistan

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Afghanistan	South Africa
2023	1,228,719	602,793
2022	1,219,475	603,636
2021	1,133,611	456,411
2020	1,134,407	595,873
2019	1,138,485	652,130
2018	1,115,262	648,319
2017	1,101,218	645,975
2016	1,090,016	641,365
2015	1,077,068	668,771
2014	1,053,788	674,754
2013	1,033,778	652,427
2012	1,004,814	643,723
2011	966,743	601,708
2010	943,473	566,834
2009	920,581	554,115
2008	891,246	595,332
2007	889,848	503,567
2006	875,301	487,584
2005	855,112	464,464
2004	850,940	442,540
2003	826,165	415,018
2002	776,048	430,926
2001	764,090	484,801
2000	782,727	526,963
1999	760,727	594,643
1998	719,860	627,027
1997	709,778	667,969
1996	685,005	710,868
1995	653,280	743,488
1994	609,096	698,609
1993	541,257	789,220
1992	440,132	794,415
1991	409,954	827,296
1990	402,433	835,421
1989	381,158	884,629
1988	358,397	909,221
1987	314,361	922,330
1986	310,066	903,644
1985	228,469	893,889
1984	205,262	869,011
1983	263,778	837,013
1982	263,210	807,550
1981	343,468	767,833
1980	365,396	738,415
1979	361,750	716,541
1978	369,101	694,341
1977	372,567	680,929
1976	357,775	675,011
1975	343,850	667,862
1974	330,232	658,438
1973	315,062	651,596
1972	300,633	638,754
1971	288,267	624,761
1970	275,129	605,102
1969	263,823	590,794
1968	251,798	571,841
1967	239,967	553,741
1966	228,786	534,862
1965	217,741	506,632
1964	207,867	490,606
1963	198,035	473,821
1962	188,427	455,634
1961	179,094	437,851
1960	170,257	421,263

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +2.96% in Afghanistan and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.04% in Afghanistan and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Afghanistan vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Afghanistan

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Afghanistan	South Africa
2023	35.4	18.8
2022	36	19.1
2021	36.3	19.4
2020	36.6	19.5
2019	37.1	19.7
2018	37.6	19.9
2017	38.2	20
2016	38.7	20.3
2015	39.4	21
2014	39.6	21.8
2013	40.3	21.9
2012	40.7	22.1
2011	41	22.1
2010	41.8	22.2
2009	42.2	22.8
2008	42.5	24.3
2007	43.8	23.1
2006	44.1	23.1
2005	45	22.7
2004	46.5	22.1
2003	47.1	21.4
2002	47.5	20.9
2001	49.6	21.3
2000	51.5	21.6
1999	50.9	22.7
1998	51.5	23.2
1997	52.1	23.9
1996	52.5	24.9
1995	52.7	25.6
1994	52.4	24.6
1993	50.8	26.6
1992	50.3	27
1991	52.3	28.1
1990	52.9	28.7
1989	51.7	30.6
1988	51.7	32
1987	52.2	33.2
1986	52.2	33.6
1985	51.7	34.2
1984	50.4	34.5
1983	51.2	34.6
1982	52	34.8
1981	55.2	34.6
1980	53.5	34.7
1979	52	34.9
1978	51.3	35.1
1977	51.3	35.6
1976	51.3	36.3
1975	51.3	37
1974	51.4	37.7
1973	51.3	38.4
1972	51.2	38.9
1971	51.3	39.3
1970	51.2	39.4
1969	51.3	39.7
1968	51.2	39.8
1967	51.1	39.9
1966	51	40
1965	50.9	39.5
1964	50.9	39.6
1963	50.8	39.7
1962	50.7	39.7
1961	50.6	39.7
1960	50.5	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 35.4 in Afghanistan and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 50.5 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Afghanistan	South Africa
2100	21%	17.9%
2099	21.2%	18%
2098	21.3%	18%
2097	21.5%	18.1%
2096	21.6%	18.1%
2095	21.8%	18.2%
2094	21.9%	18.2%
2093	22.1%	18.3%
2092	22.3%	18.3%
2091	22.4%	18.4%
2090	22.6%	18.4%
2089	22.8%	18.5%
2088	23%	18.5%
2087	23.1%	18.6%
2086	23.3%	18.6%
2085	23.5%	18.7%
2084	23.7%	18.7%
2083	23.9%	18.8%
2082	24.2%	18.9%
2081	24.4%	18.9%
2080	24.6%	19%
2079	24.8%	19%
2078	25%	19.1%
2077	25.3%	19.2%
2076	25.5%	19.3%
2075	25.8%	19.3%
2074	26%	19.4%
2073	26.2%	19.5%
2072	26.5%	19.6%
2071	26.7%	19.6%
2070	27%	19.7%
2069	27.3%	19.8%
2068	27.5%	19.9%
2067	27.8%	20%
2066	28%	20.1%
2065	28.3%	20.2%
2064	28.6%	20.3%
2063	28.8%	20.4%
2062	29.1%	20.5%
2061	29.4%	20.6%
2060	29.6%	20.7%
2059	29.9%	20.8%
2058	30.2%	20.9%
2057	30.4%	21%
2056	30.7%	21.1%
2055	31.1%	21.1%
2054	31.4%	21.2%
2053	31.7%	21.3%
2052	32%	21.4%
2051	32.4%	21.5%
2050	32.7%	21.6%
2049	33.1%	21.7%
2048	33.4%	21.8%
2047	33.8%	21.9%
2046	34.2%	22%
2045	34.6%	22.1%
2044	35%	22.3%
2043	35.4%	22.4%
2042	35.8%	22.6%
2041	36.3%	22.8%
2040	36.7%	23%
2039	37.2%	23.3%
2038	37.6%	23.5%
2037	38%	23.7%
2036	38.4%	24.1%
2035	38.8%	24.4%
2034	39.2%	24.7%
2033	39.6%	24.9%
2032	40.1%	25%
2031	40.5%	25.1%
2030	40.9%	25.2%
2029	41.3%	25.3%
2028	41.7%	25.4%
2027	42%	25.5%
2026	42.4%	25.6%
2025	42.7%	25.8%
2024	42.9%	25.9%
2023	43.2%	26.1%
2022	43.6%	26.3%
2021	43.9%	26.6%
2020	44.2%	27%
2019	44.6%	27.4%
2018	45%	27.9%
2017	45.4%	28.3%
2016	45.8%	28.3%
2015	46.3%	28.3%
2014	46.7%	28.5%
2013	47.2%	28.7%
2012	47.6%	28.9%
2011	48%	29.1%
2010	48.5%	29.4%
2009	48.9%	29.7%
2008	49.3%	29.9%
2007	49.6%	30.2%
2006	49.9%	30.6%
2005	50%	31.1%
2004	50.2%	31.6%
2003	50.2%	32.3%
2002	50.2%	33.2%
2001	50.2%	34%
2000	50%	34.9%
1999	49.8%	35.7%
1998	49.6%	36.5%
1997	49.3%	37.2%
1996	49%	37.5%
1995	48.7%	37.5%
1994	48.5%	37.2%
1993	48.2%	37.3%
1992	48%	37.6%
1991	47.8%	37.5%
1990	47.7%	37.7%
1989	47.5%	38.1%
1988	47.4%	38.4%
1987	47.3%	38.7%
1986	47.2%	38.9%
1985	47%	39.2%
1984	46.8%	39.5%
1983	46.6%	39.8%
1982	46.5%	40.1%
1981	46.3%	40.5%
1980	46.1%	40.9%
1979	45.8%	41.3%
1978	45.6%	41.5%
1977	45.4%	41.7%
1976	45.2%	41.8%
1975	45%	41.9%
1974	44.8%	42%
1973	44.6%	42.1%
1972	44.4%	42.2%
1971	44.2%	42.2%
1970	43.9%	42.3%
1969	43.7%	42.2%
1968	43.4%	42.2%
1967	43.2%	42.2%
1966	42.9%	42.1%
1965	42.6%	42.1%
1964	42.4%	42.1%
1963	42.2%	42.1%
1962	42.1%	42.1%
1961	42%	42.1%
1960	41.9%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 42.9% of the population in Afghanistan and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 47.7% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Afghanistan and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Afghanistan vs South Africa

Chart Table

Afghanistan

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Afghanistan	South Africa
2023	521	118
2022	551	129
2021	660	191
2020	634	118
2019	601	119
2018	629	128
2017	659	134
2016	702	141
2015	741	150
2014	755	162
2013	778	180
2012	810	194
2011	838	202
2010	893	226
2009	925	241
2008	955	272
2007	1,032	272
2006	1,069	283
2005	1,108	279
2004	1,166	259
2003	1,201	245
2002	1,263	225
2001	1,311	192
2000	1,372	175
1999	1,346	151
1998	1,464	152
1997	1,376	152
1996	1,389	150
1995	1,414	125
1994	1,396	133
1993	1,347	145
1992	1,443	152
1991	1,534	162
1990	1,550	170
1989	1,520	177
1988	1,572	184
1987	1,821	192
1986	1,857	200
1985	2,232	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 521 deaths per 100,000 live births in Afghanistan, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Afghanistan

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Afghanistan	South Africa
2023	5.55%	3.47%
2022	5.74%	3.44%
2021	5.93%	3.41%
2020	6.13%	3.41%
2019	6.33%	3.45%
2018	6.54%	3.49%
2017	6.76%	3.58%
2016	7%	3.68%
2015	7.24%	3.82%
2014	7.51%	3.96%
2013	7.8%	4.1%
2012	8.12%	4.25%
2011	8.46%	4.5%
2010	8.83%	5%
2009	9.22%	5.7%
2008	9.63%	6.42%
2007	10.1%	7.19%
2006	10.5%	7.75%
2005	11%	8.03%
2004	11.4%	8.1%
2003	11.9%	7.93%
2002	12.3%	7.69%
2001	12.7%	7.43%
2000	13.2%	7.11%
1999	13.6%	6.85%
1998	14%	6.56%
1997	14.4%	6.29%
1996	14.8%	6.11%
1995	15.3%	5.95%
1994	15.8%	5.82%
1993	16.3%	5.7%
1992	16.9%	5.66%
1991	17.4%	5.7%
1990	18.1%	5.82%
1989	18.7%	6.01%
1988	21.8%	6.26%
1987	24.7%	6.56%
1986	25.3%	6.89%
1985	30.1%	7.24%
1984	30.9%	7.6%
1983	27.4%	7.98%
1982	28%	8.39%
1981	23.9%	8.84%
1980	24.6%	9.35%
1979	25.2%	9.88%
1978	25.8%	10.5%
1977	26.4%	11.1%
1976	27%	11.8%
1975	27.5%	12.5%
1974	28.1%	13.2%
1973	28.6%	-
1972	29.1%	-
1971	29.7%	-
1970	30.2%	-
1969	30.6%	-
1968	31.2%	-
1967	31.7%	-
1966	32.2%	-
1965	32.7%	-
1964	33.2%	-
1963	33.7%	-
1962	34.2%	-
1961	34.8%	-
1960	35.3%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.55% in Afghanistan and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.